Photos: Suspect in fatal hit-and-run that killed a young boy turns himself in to police

The driver who allegedly killed a 4-year-old boy in a hit-and-run accident turned himself in to police Saturday afternoon, a day after the child had his life cut short in a tragedy that has left his family emotionally shattered.

Kyrillos Gendy, of South Amboy, N.J., was killed after he and members of his family were struck by a vehicle while crossing Richmond Road near the Diddle Dee Bagel and Deli in Dongan Hills. They were walking to their car following a prayer service for mothers and children at another family member's home.

John Sanjurjo, 33, of Reno Avenue in New Dorp, is facing one count of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, and two counts of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious injury following the hit-and-run incident in Dongan Hills.

Hours after turning himself in to police at the 122nd Precinct in New Dorp, a police officer remained stationed outside Sanjurjo's home on Reno Avenue, where the black Mercedes allegedly used in the fatal hit-and-run was parked in the driveway.

Family members at the home refused to comment, but a neighbor who has lived across the street from the family for 15 years called Sanjurjo "respectful" and "well-mannered." She said she was "shocked" when she heard about the hit-and-run incident.

"They're a very, very good family," she said, noting that she hasn't spoken with the family recently. "My heart breaks for both families."

Around 8:25 p.m Friday, Kyrillos Gendy's mother, Erieny Thomas, 34, and sister, Gabriella, 7, were walking across Richmond to their silver Nissan Pathfinder when Sanjurjo allegedly plowed into the family, leaving the young boy with major internal bleeding and severe head trauma, said Kyrillos' cousin, Adam Gendy.

The injuries were so severe, that if his condition had been stabilized, he would likely have lived the rest of his life in a vegetative state.

Ms. Thomas suffered minor lacerations and was said to be in a state of denial, unable to speak about what happened. Her daughter suffered a broken ankle, and as of Saturday afternoon, did not know her brother was killed.

Throughout the day, the victim's family gathered at their home along Richmond to pray. A man at the house who identified himself as a cousin said that the young boy's father is "in very bad shape."

Following the arrest, the cousin said it offered little consolation for the mourning family. "What good is it to the family. They lost a very important part of their life."

Prior to Sanjurjo's arrest, police posted signs hoping the public would provide information that would lead to the driver's apprehension. The NYPD informed the public it was looking for a man with black hair between the ages of 24 and 35, who was driving a late-model Mercedes-Benz sedan that was either black or dark in color, with tinted windows. Police asked for the public's help in identifying the vehicle or driver involved in the incident.

A video of the vehicle circling the Diddle Dee parking lot was also available to see Saturday morning.

Hours before Sanjurjo was locked up, Adam Gendy, who lives at the home where young Kyrillos prayed before his death, said the driver should turn himself in, but damage had already been done.

"He's just a boy. He's dead already," said the boy's cousin, describing his cousin as energetic and positive. "Even if there's justice, he killed this family already."

Joe Sicuranza, who lives two doors down from the devastated family on Richmond Road, described the incident as horrible and said it's terrible the motorist didn't stop.

He said traffic on Richmond Road is out of control, adding drivers often travel upwards of 50 mph. "You gotta be extremely cautious when crossing this road," Sicuranza said.

Roseann Scully of New Dorp said she felt sick hearing the news of the boy's death.

Calling it tragic, she said the driver was a wimp for not immediately claiming responsibility for hitting the family. "How do you leave something like that?" she said.

Rep. Michael Grimm visited the boy's relatives' Dongan Hills home to offer his condolences. "It's the ultimate nightmare. I don't think there's anything worse than a parent losing a child. You're never the same. It changes your life forever," said Grimm, noting members of the family were supporters of his. "It's part of your life you can never get back."

The congressman said the driver's decision to leave the scene was unforgivable. "And now there's a lost child," he said.

Sanjurjo made headlines several years ago, but for completely different circumstances that left him considered a hero. In January 2005, while working as a part-time bus driver, he and a matron saved eight developmentally disabled children, ages 2-5.

As an employee for Rimer Transportation in 2005, Sanjurjo was driving an eight-seat bus containing youngsters when it caught fire at Little Clove Road and Victory Boulevard in Sunnyside, according to Advance archives. Quick to act, Sanjurjo helped free the children and got them off the bus.

"The flames were shooting in fast," he said at the time. "If we didn't get the first four to six (kids) out, forget about it."

No one was injured.

Sanjurjo was later recognized as a hero by several people, including former Gov. George Pataki and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Advance archives show.

On Saturday morning and afternoon, dozens of cops and several reporters and photographers staked out the home where Gendy's relatives resided. The Pathfinder that served as the vehicle that would transport the family back to its South Amboy home remained idle.